Two yrs on, Mary Kom awaits promotion, promised land

She might have been felicitated several times after fetching an Olympic bronze medal, but the achievement has not been enough to get the top Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom the small piece of land that was promised by the government of her home state Manipur two years ago.

Mary Kom was promised the land in Manipur after her unprecedented fifth world title in 2010 but two years on, she is still waiting for the allotment papers, besides a long-pending promotion in the State Police.

This, despite the fact that Mary Kom was the only Indian boxer to win a medal at the London Olympics. In fact the promises made to her two years ago were repeated after the London achievement, only to be forgotten.

In fact the promises made to her two years ago were repeated after the London achievement, only to be forgotten. Reuters

"I have been waiting and waiting for things to happen but nothing moves forward. It's a three acre piece of land that was promised long back by the state government," said Mary Kom, who was presented the latest model of SUV Bolero by the Mahindra Group at a felicitation function here today.

"The land has been finalised. We know where it is but the paperwork has not been done," she added.

The 29-year-old mother-of-two, who has been hopping from one felicitation function to another after returning from London, said save from travelling most of her waking hours, nothing really has changed in her life.

"I am just enjoying the adulation. There is no major competition this year and I will start training only in the new year," he said.

"Mary Kom is still Mary Kom attending felicitations and travelling to different cities are only changes in my life. I am still a boxer first."

After a successful debut at the London Olympics, women's boxing as been included in the 2014 Commonwealth Games roster and Mary Kom said she would be aiming to be in the Indian team.

"I want to be there in Glasgow. I am always ready for a fight. If I am selected I will definitely compete," she said. The diminutive boxer was asked whether she wanted any of her twin sons to become a boxer.

"My kids are free to do what they want. If they want to take up boxing, it is their wish," she said.

On whether she would want to act in the movie being made on her life by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Mary Kom giggled and said, "I am not good in acting, I am only good in the ring. My speech is also not good."